WHAT IS YOUTH?

A stage of life that’s full of fun,

The most awaited time for everyone.

A time when you are full of zest and zeal,

So energetic and active you tend to feel.

It’s the time to freak out with friends,

When youngsters start new fashioned trends.

As wonderful as the rainbow in the sky,

It’s also the time you begin to lie.

Life but turns into a happy song,

Various experiences you carry along.

Some more burdens come over your head,

All relationships on just a single thread.

Yet life is so joyful and free,

And it’s as lively as can be.

A mixture of feelings spread you way

In enthusiasm and responsibilities, you lay!

N. Navya

II BA (PES)

WALK BESIDE ME

You used to walk beside me,

Holding me, irritating me, teasing me,

Swinging my tiny hand cuddled in yours

In the open air as a newly found toy.

Proud, head held high,

I used to walk beside you,

In the rush of showing off.

I forgot the paths we walked,

May be it had puddles and pebbles,

Stones and pain,

Once, twice, I jerked, I even trembled,

You held me…you walked beside me;

Then why did you leave me alone on my chosen path ahead?

Was I bad? Did I make some mistake?

I have not had the gratification, the happiness,

The glee from the moment you decided to stay back

Wasn’t the pain enough

That you oblige me to hold different hands

Where once were your hands.

I have walked ahead, miles ahead,

Have held many hands…strong, tiny, soft

But never the hands as yours.

Can’t assure you the same me because

I have reached far ahead of you

The wind, the dust, the rain, the suns

Have changed me a lot.

But I assure you that I would

Love you, walking beside each other not shouting,

Not irritating one another, in silence of

Understanding that the tired, old hands of yours

Which sent me alone to conquer world and hearts,

Is safe beside me.

Let’s walk beside one another again papa.

Kukku B.

III BA (PJoE)

The ‘You’ of U.S.A. - All aboard!

In an hour long session on the 25^th of July, 2012 a hall of students received valuable information from Pankaj A. Desai (a former student of M.E.S.) on a subject that perplexes all those who hope to further their studies abroad-how exactly do you go about it? Since he spoke from personal experience, his talk leaned slightly towards universities in the U.S. giving students who want to go there a minor advantage over those who would prefer other countries instead. Each individual however was benefitted since a general pattern is followed when it comes to university application procedures. With a warm manner and a PowerPoint presentation that was peppered with good-natured humour, he doled out the following guidelines.

What foreign universities want to see from you:

    

     A good academic record but more importantly, a sincere student

Good grades are a pre-requisite for admission into any decent university. However more than just the ability to learn, the university wants to see in you a desire to learn.

    

    TOEFL score

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (or TOEFL) is designed to evaluate your hold over the English language. This test is basically meant to check your ability to cope with various accents abroad.

    

     GRE score

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is designed to test your Verbal skills (in English), Quantitative skills (Math) and Analytical writing (in the form of Essays).

   

     Statement of Purpose (SOP)

The statement of purpose is an essay that records your educational journey so far and your goals for the future. This is where you are given the opportunity to present yourself as a unique individual with a definite aspiration and why you are convinced that this particular university will guide you on your journey.

            A well-balanced Résumé

Foreign universities do not only look for a good academic record from you. They want to see a well-rounded individual with interests and capabilities beyond textbooks. Letters of recommendation from your mentors play a vital part in delivering this message across.

      Your financial standing

The universities need to be convinced that you can support yourself in an abroad setting from a financial standpoint.

10 steps that will help you in your Endeavour

1. Identify your interest

Introspect and discover what it is that you truly want to dedicate yourself to.

2. Narrow down to a specialization

Pinpoint your interest to an exact specialization. Once you learn the technical term of the field you want to enter, you will find doors opening to universities that offer your specialization.

3. Research on universities that offer your specialization.

4. Examine the syllabus

Do the topics covered in the syllabus rouse your thirst for learning?

5. Shortlist colleges that fit your bill

Are their tuition fees and the living costs within your reach? What endowments does your university offer? Are you comfortable with your living conditions? Do you find the faculty qualified enough to match your expectation? Positive answers to questions like these bring you one step closer to your final destination.

6. Is your degree a degree?

A Bachelor of Arts degree in the U.S requires 1600 contact hours (time spent ‘in contact’ with a lecturer…i.e. total class hours) stretched over 4 years whereas in India, we achieve the same within a period of 3 years. Does your university recognize and accept your 3 year degree and qualify you for a Master’s degree?

[Agencies that research such universities for you exist but they provide their services for a hefty fee]

7. Prepare a final list of your selected colleges

Remember-each application form requires a fee. Although tempting, it may not be possible to apply to numerous universities at one go. Plan according to your finances. 

8. Prepare for your entrance tests

Depending on the region you are planning to pursue your studies, you will have to take entrance tests (like GRE and TOEFL for the U.S., IELTS for the U.K or even entrance tests conducted by the university itself)

9. What goes into your file?

Your file is the list of documents you will need to send across in order to secure your admission. Your file must contain the following:

1.     Résumé

2.     SOP (Statement of Purpose)

3.     Official transcript (original marks card)

4.     Letters of Recommendation

5.     Financial Documents

10. And finally…

Once you’re done with your tests, it is time to finally fill out your application forms and send them. This must be done by courier and not post. Verify with your universities if your file is complete and has been forwarded to the selection committee. Stay alert throughout your admission process as ignorance is not a viable reason for inconsistencies and it could cost you.

He also mapped out The Ideal Timeline for students in the current 2^nd year which goes something like this-

The seminar ended with an interactive question-answer session following which The Department of English bestowed upon Pankaj a token of thanks for taking the time to impart his knowledge to a room full of hopefuls.

Shivani N.

II BA (PJoE)

WITH WOMAN, CAME TROUBLE. WITH TROUBLE, CAME HOPE.

Zeus, the king of Gods was angry with the Titans. He wanted revenge.

This was the time when only man lived on Earth and goodness, love and compassion were the only feelings man had for his fellow men. The Titans were giants, always waging war against the gods. Mt. Olympus constantly bled with war. But the titans always lost. Was it just the fact that they were fighting against the Gods or that Zeus was too clever to be defeated by his own creations, no one knew. But this time, the Titans didn’t want to leave empty-handed. They fought until they reached the peak of Mt. Olympus, home of the Gods. They stole fire and gave it to the humans.

Zeus wanted to punish man for stealing fire from the Gods, the fire that was the only other difference between man and god other than magic and immortality. So Zeus created a beautiful creature from the very sands he used to create the most powerful and courageous men. It resembled the human form but he made it ever so delicate and beautiful. It was a creature full of love, compassion and humanity. Thus, the first woman was born. He named her Pandora. He gave her a box and its key and told her that she must marry a man and give him the box after their marriage. He told her that by no means must she open it herself. Pandora was sent to live on the earth.

On Earth, she met a handsome young man named Prometheus. She fell in love with the youth and eventually they were married. She gave him the box and the key as Zeus had instructed her. Prometheus loved Pandora and they lived happily in a world of their own. They worked on their land and lived on its produce. The box was forgotten. As time passed, Prometheus took to gambling and spent most of his time outside. Poor Pandora was left to entertain herself at home. She was tired of gardening and housework and longed for a change. She suddenly remembered the box and was curious to see what it contained. She ran into the house and searched for the box. Eventually she found it in the corner of a room. As she approached the box, she thought she heard voices calling out to her. She pressed her ear against the box’s lid. She was surprised by what she heard.

“Pandora let us out!” the voices cried. She remembered Zeus’ warning but in spite of it, she unlocked the box. A swarm of insects emerged from the box and bit her all over her hands and face. Pandora was not in pain but something else was happening to her. She suddenly felt angry and jealous of Prometheus. She felt sad, and thoughts of malice, hatred, sin, treachery and so on filled her mind. Pandora had released all the troubles of the world which Zeus had locked up in the box. The once happy world where people lived without any problems, this cheerful, sunny world now went dark as the cloud of insects engulfed the skies. It was as if all cheer, happiness and calm were sucked out of the world. The world became miserable.

Pandora quickly shut the box but it was too late. The troubles had spread all over the world. Pandora felt despair for the first time and was angry with herself for setting the troubles free. She then heard a faint voice from the box calling, “Let me out Pandora, let me out!”

“No. I won’t, “Pandora replied, “I don’t want to bring any more trouble.”

“I can help you Pandora, let me out,” the voice said.

Pandora felt better after listening to the voice and so she opened the box again. A fairy flew out of the box; white, calming light radiating from her delicate body. As soon as Pandora saw her, a hint of confidence rose in her.

“I am Hope,” the fairy said. “Zeus put me in the box along with the insects to help mankind.”

“You have done a terrible thing Pandora,” continued the fairy, “you have set free the troubles of the world. “

“The world as you know it now will change. Anger, hatred, fear, malice, sin, droughts, famine and calamities will rein the earth. I was sent to bring hope to the innocent people.” She said and flew away.

From then Hope has always helped man. She stood by him in testing times and with her help Man achieved what he thought was impossible. She still wanders the earth to help those who are in misery, to give them courage to face life. 

Himadyuti

II BA (PJoE)        

FACEBOOK GOES GREEN

Ever thought that the social networking site we religiously follow was capable of something like this? Well, here’s your answer. A set of people have come together to form a group which is called “Second to None” on this most popular networking site.

This forum is for used/ recycled/ up cycled goods. Their motto- Reuse. Recycle. Find a new lease of life for objects around you. Don't discard; resell. Don't waste; share. Before you buy new, discover the charm of the old. 

Things you can sell:
- Used goods
- Upcycled goods (some parts of the product must be recycled / old / waste material)
- Any material that can be recycled
- Bought, but never used
- Gifted, but have no use for.
- Items in BULK / LARGE numbers (should be noted as not used first, before posting) 

Things you CANNOT sell:
- New products
- Real estate, Time shares
- Advertisements for services not related to recycling, classes and workshops NOT related to recycling.
- Old stock from stores
- Surplus stock from stores/factories
- Export rejects, or any rejected products by businesses
- Pets, and products made from animals (like peacock feathers, etc.)
- Food.

What about ideas and links:
- You CAN post recycling ideas, share pictures from other sites, discuss non-product related things directly on their Wall. Recycling ideas can also be posted in the album of that name.

How do I post items for sale?

Category based albums have been created:
- Click the Photos tab in the group page. 
- Read the Category descriptions. 
- Select the category-album in which your product belongs. 
- Upload photos of your products in these albums ONLY.

We must give these ladies a hand for their effort in bringing about a change by putting to good use the old time saying – Reuse, Recycle, Reduce. Many schools also participate along with this foundation by setting up Second to None fairs which give the moms a chance to clean out their house and get rid of their “garbage” for a reasonable price. As the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” So before throwing out what you consider trash, consider making some money out of cleaning out your rooms. Go Green and make other people happy with what you don’t need any more.

Varsha P.

I BA (PJoE)

WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT ENGLISH?

What would we do without English? EVERYBODY knows the answer to that. NOTHING. We wouldn’t be able to do ANYTHING in this world without using English. In today’s business-minded world, let’s take a look at how important the English language has become to conduct and take part in businesses around the world.

English operates as the lingua franca of today, i.e. the language that businesspeople around the world use to communicate when they don't speak the same native languages. Understanding English is necessary to succeed in international business.
English has emerged as the global language of trade and commerce in the past few decades, affecting many key aspects of business in the modern world and has become the standard for all important official communications in an increasingly large number of countries with a wide variety of native languages. In the modern world, thanks to the Internet, English continues to spread as the major medium through which both small businesses and large corporations do business. English became the unifying language in the area of business, which included the fields of shipping, travel and commerce.

English is a global language for doing business. In some industries such as the airline and shipping industries, English is the official standard language. Therefore, an excellent command of English is required for such key jobs. In addition, English has emerged as a major language for finance and the stock markets around the world.

People wishing to do businesses globally need to have a good command of spoken English. The ability to clearly write in English is also crucial as many forms of business communication- from emails to presentations and marketing to important business contracts- are written in English.

Doing Business on the Internet

In today’s high-tech world, where everyone has knowledge of how to operate computers, doing business over the internet has now become possible. English has emerged as one of the major languages for doing business on the Internet. A website written in English can attract many customers and enable even small business owners in remote villages to sell items to people around the world. Well-written product and service descriptions in English are important for attracting new customers and keeping them up to date on any new product offerings.

According to Global Envision, English is the official language in more than 70 countries, and English is taught in schools around the world. Knowing English opens new business doors. You have the chance to land jobs in which English fluency is required, and you can communicate clearly with contacts and potential clients.

Thus is the importance of the English language. We now know that we can’t take the language for granted and how important it is for each and every one of us to know English in order to bag even the smallest job in today’s world.

Mukesh

I BA (PJoE)

BUT STILL I AM HIS FRIEND

He ignores me!

He doesn’t understand me!

But still I am his friend…

He talks, laughs, dances

With all, not with me!

He feels and cares,

For all except me!

But still I am his friend…

He messages others,

He shops for others,

Never done for me

But still I am his friend…

He shoulders others,

He treats other,

He sympathizes with others,

Never once done for me

But still I am his friend…

All fine,

Misunderstood by many,

But I truly understand his worth

A friend with a golden heart…

Dear to me, near to me

All in one for me

My true love,

My friend

My best friend,

Now and will always be…

Manoj I. Jain

III BA (PJoE)

BANGALORE- A CHANGED CITY

People in Bangalore are so busy and tensed that they forget about their health. They want to make money, invest and gain profit. I once overheard a lady say, “My husband has to leave early for office today. So even I had to leave for my walk early because I’ve to go back as soon as possible and prepare his lunch. He is obese and has high blood pressure. He isn’t allowed to have outside food. Oh god!”

Sometimes I wonder why it is such a necessity for a person to labour so hard for money to such an extent that he falls prey to dreadful diseases.

In some areas of Bangalore, we come across beautiful paintings on the wall with slogans like, ‘Keep your city clean!’ and ‘This is my city.’ It fills me with such pride, the fact that I stay in such a big and famous city like Bangalore. But then sights like an old woman sitting on the roadside, crying for food or money haunt me. I wonder…is this my city where there is no shelter for this woman? Is this really my city where we find people who long for even a simple meal a day? There are countless stomachs that sleep hungry at night in a city like Bangalore.

The citizens of Bangalore are well-educated people. When we come across a sensational piece of news, we get excited and we pass comments on it. But we never pause to question the reasons behind the emergence of such news. We wholeheartedly point fingers at the administrative setup of the country and forget that we’re the ones who vote for these people and it’s actually we who are to blame.

A majority of people are money-minded and only think about their well-being. It doesn’t matter to them what befalls their neighbours. Yet, when it’s time to pass judgments they very grandly say, ‘Oh this shouldn’t have happened. What a disgrace!” The famous saying by Leo Tolstoy, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” is very true.

People come across petty problems everyday that all of us have experienced at some point or the other. I’ve come across some individuals who make a big fuss and create a scene for stupid little things to which their solution is verbal abuse. Sadly, I sometimes experience such nonsense early in the morning. It is a time when we treat ourselves to slokas and devotional songs. Instead we are forced to get an earful of such convoluted vocabulary. And it is coming out of the mouth of a literate person who is probably working in a big MNC. Why can’t such silly problems be solved by peaceful means? What is the necessity for such a big scene to be created?

We see bus drivers, traffic police and many government employees who themselves break the law. Fastening of the seat belts is made compulsory. We rarely ever see the police with belts locked into place. They check us for our driving licenses and we’re fined if we’re unable to display it. However, we rarely ever see a minister’s driver holding his license with him. Big banners of ‘Have you thanked a traffic police today for keeping your roads safe?’ make me laugh.

Can we put an end to all these flaws within us? Can we expect people to come up with a solution regarding the care, concern and maintenance of rules and regulations of public areas? Well, these questions can be answered with a firm ‘yes!’ But how firm will our resolution be? As human beings, how many resolutions have we sustained so far? I would say that the record consists of very few.

I’d like to end with a plea to you. Be concerned about other people and not just yourself. Respect your society, city and nation. No matter what happens, we must stay together, work together. As the saying goes, a single stick can be broken easily but a bundle of sticks cannot. It is our one duty to fulfill Dr. APJ’S vision of India 2020.


Neeraja B. Shringeri
II BA (HEE)